The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan, Olanike Adeyemo says investment by private sector in entrepreneurship would enhance the potential of the teeming Nigerian students and help prepare them for life outside the school environment.
Adeyemo lauded Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), for taking the lead in promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths through its Youth Empowered Initiative.
The university don made this known during the 2-day Youth Empowered Workshop in University of Ibadan, Oyo State sponsored by NBC where over 700 undergraduates were exposed to Entrepreneurship, Life and Networking skills to prepare them to start their own businesses or for meaningful employment.
Adeyemo commended the company for creating such a novel initiative to assist the students and urged participants to take advantage of the unique opportunity by applying themselves to further learning throughout the duration of the workshop.
In her opening remarks, Ifeoma Okoye, Sustainability and Community Affairs Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, described the initiative as one of the channels that NBC employs to empower young Nigerians to succeed in life.
Okoye stated that the campus version of the Youth Empowered Initiative is tailored to help undergraduates achieve their career or lifelong ambitions by providing guidance, support and mentorship as they transit from school into meaningful employment or self-employment. The modules covered in the intensive 2-day training range from project and time management to business planning, negotiation, financial literacy skills, communication and sales skills.
Also speaking during the two-day workshop, Afis Oladosu, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, expressed a profound appreciation to Nigerian Bottling Company for choosing University of Ibadan for the workshop. He described the initiative as a very commendable one as it has a great chance of helping the students discover themselves and be creative in their approach to learning. He also urged the students to make good use of the opportunity noting that he is convinced it would have great impact in their lives.
Okoye further says NBC took the decision to introduce the campus version of the Youth Empowered Programme to undergraduates in order to bridge the gap some intending programme participants faced in accessing the 3-day version of trainings which held in various states across the country.
“We noticed that most of the students in tertiary institutions found it difficult to attend the live workshops being held across different states. Now, we are bringing this programme to their doorsteps. We are optimistic that this would mark a life-changing experience for them given that it would enable them learn new things outside the school’s curricula.”, Okoye said.
KELECHI EWUZIE
